Hydrocarbon-supply apparatus for internal-combustion engines



Patented Mar. 16, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VALENTINE C. KLOEPPER,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOROF ONE-HALF TO RALPH KALISH, OF ST.LOUIS, MISSOURI.

Application led July 2,

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, VALENTINE C. KLonrrER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri,

have invent-ed a certain new and useful Iming, forming a part thereof.

. and combination yof parts hereinafter This invention relates generallyto engines and, more particularly, to a certain new and usefulimprovement in hydro-carbon supply apparatus for engines especially ofthe internal combustion type.

It is the common practice today in automotive construction to connectthe carburetor directly with a gasoline supply tank and conduct from thecarbure-tor a like quality of gasoline to the cylinders of the enginefor both starting and running. Owing, however, to the now high, andgradually rising, flash-point of present-day gasoline, resulting fromexcessive consumption of gasoline and other causes with which we are nothere concerned, more or less difficulty is experienced with mostautomobiles in effecting volatilization and explosions in starting.

The principal object of my present invention is briefly to obviate suchdifficulty in start-ing resulting from the present day use o-f gasolineof high flash-point and relatively high specific gravity and, to thatend, to provide a supply apparatus, forming part of the gasoline systemof, and operating with, the automobile, adapted to vaporize andre-distill a suitable portion or quantity of the normal running supplyto a lower Hash-point and lower specific gravity than that of the normalsupply and to store'and make readily available for facilitating startingsuch refined and correspondingly more volatile quantity or portion ofthe normal running7 supply.

With the above and other objects in View, my present invention residesin the novel features of form, construction, arrangement,

1921. SerialNo. 482,291.

scribed and afterwards pointed out in the claims.

Referring now more in det-ail to the accompanying drawing, whichillustrates in vertical sectional elevation an engine hydrocarbon supplyapparatus embodying my invention, 1 indicates a suitable tank preferablytoppcd by a closure cap 2 and divided intcriorly by shells 3 and 4,suitably fixed in relative positions, preferably as shown, into an upperor float-chamber 5, a lower-chamber 6, and an intermediate chamber 7.Upper shell 3 is preferably reduced in diameter, as at 3a, relatively tothe diameter of tank 1 and of lower shell 4 and throughout substantiallyits reduced portion 3a is surrounded by, but spaced from, lower shell 4,the latter being preferably open at its top and also spaced from thewall of tank 1 to form or provide a communicating passage, as at 8, fromand between lower chamber 6 and intermediate chamber 7. The, tank 1 inuse, is suitably positioned upon the car and in the gasoline system islocated intermediate the main gasoline tank (not shown) and thecarburetor (also not shown), av supply-pipe 9 leading from the maingasoline tank and thro-ugh cap 2 into upper chamber 5 of tank 1 and adelivery-pipe 10 leading from or adjacent thebottom of tank 1 to thecarburetor.

The tank l here shown is of the wellknown vacuum supply type and to suchend includes an air or vacuum pipe 11 providing communication throughcap 2 between upper tank-chamber 5 yand the intake-manifold of theengine (not shown), a second pipe or vent 12 leading from the uppertank-chamber 5 to atmosphere, a suction-valve 13 for opening and closingthe pipe-connection 11 to the engine manifold and through which a vacuumis extended from the engine-manifold to the upper tank-chamber 5, anatmosphere valve 14 for permitting and preventlno' an atmosphericcondition in upper tank-c mber 5, a float A15 mounted" for movement inupper tank-chamber 5, and oat-operated connected levers 16 for actuatingthe valves 13 and v 14. Extending vertically throu h the intermediatechamber 7 and leading rom upper chamber 5 into lower chamber 6, is adischarge-pipe 17, provided at its outlet end and within lower chamberC- lwith a dapper-valve 18.

In operation, it may be here stated, yand as is well known, the tank 1,when the engine is running, o erates normally to maintain a uniformuninterrupted flow or supply of gasoline to the carburetor. Valve 13being open, a suction and vacuum are created in upper tank-chamber 5,under which the valve 18 will be closed and gasoline will be suckedthrough pipe 9 into the upper tank-chamber 5. As the chamber 5 fills,the float 15 will move upwardly and, through the levers 16, valve l 13will be closedl and valve 14 opened, whereupon valve 18 will also openand the contents of upper chamber 5 discharge through outlet 17 intolower chamber 6 for normally supplying the carburetor, as hereinaftermore fully appears. As float 15 falls in chamber 5 with the emptying ofits contents, valve 13 will again be opened, valves 14 and 18 againclosed, and chamber 5 filled under the vacuum and suction so provided,and so on during the running of the engine, the upper chamber 5 beingalternately filled from the main gasoline supply and alternatelyemptying or discharging into the lower or normal discharge chamber 6 ofthe tank and thus maintaining a substantially uniform and uninterruptedfeed for the carburetor.

suitably fixed within lower chamber 6 on a plane slightly beneath thenormal fluid or gasoline level, as shown, is a vaporization heaterpreferably in the form of a tubular coil 19, its inlet-end 20 beingarranged for connection with the engine exhaust or other source of heatsupply and its outlet end 21 leading to ground or to the suction side ofWater pump when cooling water is used.

Suitably fixed within the float or upper tank-chamber 5 and preferablysurrounding the float 15, is. a tubular worm forming a condenser-coil 22having its one end 23 open to the passage 8 and its other end 24 open toatmosphere through the pipe 12, as shown.

Located between the pipe 10 leading to the carburetor and the tank 1, isa valve 25 preferably of the rotary type shown, which is provided withan actuating lever 26 to which is connected an operating rod 27 leadingto a convenient accessible point, such as the instrument board 28, ofthe car, a-nd extended between and adapted for communication with thevalve and the cup or shell 4 is a pipe-connection 29 having two ports 31and 30 communicating, respectively, with the lower tank-chamber 6 andthe intermediate tank-chamber 7.

The engine running, and upon the application of heat by means of thecoil or heater 19 to the body of gasoline in the lower tankchamber 6,certain vaporization and re-distlllation of such gasoline is created andset up.

vThe gasoline vapors so produced will flow mits an atmospheric conditionin the lower' and intermediate tank-chambers, permitting the desiredeven and uninterrupted flow of the gasoline from the tank to thecarburetor, any hydro-carbon vapor condensing in the worm or coil 22liowing back and also being collected and stored for use in the chamber7.

The gasoline so distilled from lower tankchamber 6 and condensed andstored in intermediate chamber 7 is more refined, of greatervolatility,` and of a lower flash-point than the normal running supplyof gasoline flowing from upper chamber 5 into lower chamber 6 and ishence more readily and quickly volatilized and exploded in theengine'cylinders, and this refined or redistilled gasoline is thusparticularly useful in facilitating the starting ot the car.Accordingly, the operator of the car, when starting, will so selectivelyactuate rod 27 to bring valve 25 into registration with port 30, whenthe refined gasoline stored in chamber 7 will flow or discharge throughoutlet 10 to the carburetor. After the car has started, the operator mayactuate the rod 27 to now bring valve 25 into registration with port 31and out of registration with port 30, when the normal gasoline containedin charnher 6 will discharge to the carburetor, as is now common invacuum gasoline supply systems, with this difference, however, that suchnormal gasoline has been to a certain extent heated by the heat of coil19 and its volatility and explosibility correspondingly increased andquickened. My new apparatus is compact and simple 1n form andconstruction, is automatic and positive in operation, and is mosteiicient in accomplishing its described object and function. It will benoted that the wall of shell-4 is provided with an orifice or aperture,as at 32, below the plane of coilinlet 23. to permit any excessivequantity of refined hydro-carbon to flow back into main or lower supplychamber 6 without closing or in otherwise affecting coil 22; and it isto be understood that various changes in the form, construction,arrangement, and combination of the several parts of the apparatus maybe made and substituted for those herein shown and described withoutdeparting from the nature and principle of my invention.

containing tank, means Having thus describedmy invention, what I claimand desire to secure by Letters Patent is: y 4 1. In combination with anengine of internal combustion type, a hydrocarbon supply apparatuscomprising a hydrocarbon for refining and storing some of thehydrocarbon of the tank, said means including a vaporizing coil havingcommunication with the exhaust otl the engine and disposed in intimaterelation with hydrocarbon in the tank, and a shell having communicationwith the tank for receiving condensing vapors from the tank, a commonoutlet-pipe from the shell and vtank for hydrocarbon supplycommunication with the engine, and means for controlling hydrocarbonsupply communication selectively through said pipe between the tank orshell and the engine.

2. In combination with an engine of internal combustion type, ahydrocarbon supply apparatus comprising a tank having a hydrocarboncontaining chamber adapted for hydrocarbon supply communication with theengine, a heating coil having communication with the engine-'exhaust anddisposed in thel tank for vaporizing some of the hydrocarbon ot' saidchamber, a second chamber within the tank also. adapted for hydrocarbonsuppl communication with the engine and having communication with thefirst chamber for receiving condensing vapors therefrom, and linghydrocarbon supply communication selectively between the tank or shelland the engine.

:3. ln combination with an engine of internal combustion type, ahydrocarbon supply7 apparatus including a tank having a hydrocarboncontaining chamber, a heating' coil having communication with theengineexhaust'and disposed in the tank for vaporizing some ot' thehydrocarbon of said chamber, a second chamber Within the tank havingcommunication with the first chambcr l'or receiving condensinghydrocarbon vapors from the first chamber, a common hydrocarbon supplypassage between said chambers and the engine, and means for controllinghydrocarbon supply through said passage selectively from said chambersto the engine.

4. In combination with an engine of internal combustion type, ahydrocarbon supply -appalatus including a tank divided into an upperchamber, an intermediate chamber, and a lower chamber, the upper chamberbeing adapted to supply hydrocarbon to the lower chamber, a heatinglcoil disposed in -the lower chamber andhaving communication with theengine-exhaust for vaporizing some of the hydrocarbon of the lowerchamber, the intermediate chamber having 'communication with the lowerchamber for remeans for controlceiving condensing hydrocarbon vaporstherefrom, a common hydrocarbon supply passage between the intermediateand lower chambers and the engine, and means for controlling hydrocarbonsupply passage selectively from the intermediatel and lower chambers tothe engine.

5. In combination with an engine of internal combustion type, ahydrocarbon supply apparatus including a tank divided into an upperchamber, an intermediate chamber, and a lower chamber, the upper chamberbeing adapted to supply hydrocarbon to the lower chamber, a heating coildisposed in the lower chamber and having communication with theengine-exhaust for vaporizing some of the hydrocarbon of the lowerchamber, the intermediate chamber having communication with the lower'chamber for receiving condensing hydrocarbon vapors therefrom, a commonhydrocarbon supply passage betweenthe intermediate and lower chambersand the engine, means for controlling hydrocarbon supply through saidpassage selectively from the intermediate and lower chambers to theengine, and means for conducting surplus hydrocarbon vapors from theintermediate chamber to atmosphere.

6. In combination with an engine of internal combustion type, ahydrocarbon supply apparatus including a tank divided into an upperchamber, an intermediate chamber, and a lower chamber, the upper chamberbeing adapted to supply hydrocarbon to the lower chamber, a heating coildisposed in the lower chamber and having communication with theengine-exhaust for vaporizing some of the hydrocarbon of the lowerchamber, the intermediate chamber having communication with the lowerchamber for receiving condensing hydrocarbon vapors therefrom, a commonhydrocarbon supply passage between the intermediate and lower chambersand the engine, means for controlling hydrocarbon supply through saidpassage selectively from the intermediate and lower chambers to theengine, and a coil located within the upper chamber and havingcommunication with the intermediate chamber and atmosphere forconducting surplus hydrocarbon vapors from the intermediate chamber toatmosphere.

7. In combination with an engine of internal combustion type, ahydrocarbon supply apparatus including a tank divided into an upperchamber, an intermediate chamber, and a lower chamber, the upper chamberbeing adapted to supply hydrocarbon to the lower chamber, a heating coildisposed in the lower chamber and having communicommunication with thelower chamber for receiving condensing hydrocarbon vapors therefrom, acommon hydrocarbon supply passage between the intermediate and lowerchambers and the engine, a valve located in l said passage forcontrolling hydrocarbon supply through said passage selectively from theintermediate and lower chambers to the engine, and a coil located withinthe upper chamber and having communication with the intermediate chamberand atmosphere for conducting surplus hydrocarbon vapors from theintermediate chamber to atmosphere.

In witness whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

VALENTINE C. KLOEPPER.

